Lincoln High graduate tackles adversity on way to his diploma, All-Star Game

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 14, 2013 at 5:43 AM

STOCKTON - Marcelo Hernandez took a rewarding walk last week dressed in a red cap and gown.

Bob Highfill

STOCKTON - Marcelo Hernandez took a rewarding walk last week dressed in a red cap and gown.

The pride he felt was surpassed only by that of his mother, Victoria, who smiled and applauded during Lincoln High School's commencement ceremony, despite being in excruciating pain from bone cancer that she said is "eating up my vertebrae."

Nothing could dampen her spirits as Marcelo walked in the sun and received his diploma.

"I'm so proud of my son," she said. "I'm so happy he is succeeding in all he's doing."

Not long ago, the odds Marcelo would graduate with his class, let alone as an all-league football player, weren't promising. Hernandez had a volatile temper - he was dismissed from Lincoln's freshman football squad for kicking a teammate following a game. His home life was challenging, with one older brother in jail and another suffering from heart problems. When Victoria was diagnosed with cancer during Marcelo's sophomore year, his grades slipped and he was academically ineligible to play football, the game he loves.

But Hernandez overcame his circumstances and earned a spot on the Trojans' varsity football team, and his diploma, which he received June 5. Hernandez also earned an opportunity to play for the North squad in the Central California Lions All-Star Football Game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Modesto Junior College.

"It feels really good just to know that I completed all four years, so, yeah, I'm real excited," Hernandez said on graduation day. "I'm really glad I stayed humble and I worked really hard, and I feel like I earned it, like the rest of the kids. I'm really glad I'm graduating with my class."

Lincoln coach Brian Gray chose the 6-foot, 270-pound offensive lineman as one of three graduating seniors from his team to take part in the 40th rendition of one of the oldest high school football all-star games in the state.

"Marcelo represents what's good about high school athletics," Gray said. "A lot of kids will have trials at different times in their lives, and he's not an angel, but he's worked hard and acknowledged those things that have taken place in his life, and I felt he was deserving to be recognized as one of our better players."

When times were bleak, Hernandez thought about giving up on football and school to tend to his mother. But Victoria wouldn't let him throw away his dreams. Hernandez improved his grades and made the football team as a junior. Though he played sparingly, Hernandez learned as much as he could and improved his strength and stamina, leading to a breakout senior season in which he earned first-team All-San Joaquin Athletic Association honors in a vote by the league's coaches. Hernandez will attend San Joaquin Delta College and play football for coach Gary Barlow with hopes of pursuing a career as a corrections officer.

"We think he's a guy that's going to help us," said Barlow, who's entering his 13th season. "We're always looking for guys up front that can help us. With the teams we play, you have be real sturdy and physical, and we think he has those qualities. We're excited."

Hernandez is excited to be among some of the top graduating high school football players from San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras and Stanislaus counties competing in the Lions All-Star game, a summer tradition that until 2012 had been played at Pacific's Stagg Memorial Stadium.

Last season, Hernandez helped the Trojans finish 8-4 overall and 5-0 in the SJAA for their third consecutive league title. He was the leader of a young offensive line that opened holes for running back Justin Davis, who enrolled last spring at USC, where he is competing for playing time in the Trojans' backfield.

"For him to be that strong and get through everything he's gone through, he's worked very hard," said Davis, who rushed for 1,806 yards and scored 23 touchdowns his senior season. "Being able to get into this all-star game shows you his character and how strong he is."

Marcelo and Victoria have had to be strong for themselves and each other. Victoria has multiple myeloma, a cancer that starts in the plasma cells of the bone marrow. She undergoes radiation treatments and takes medication to tame the constant pain she feels throughout her body, especially in her back. As she has inspired Marcelo, so has he inspired her not to give up the fight. Victoria plans to be in the stands Saturday and this fall at Delta College, rooting for her pride and joy.

"He has motivation," she said. "He's really matured, and he's determined to be successful and prepare himself to go out there and be somebody."